Amersham Old Town

Contents -- Click to go to item

General
The Crown Hotel
The Elephant and Castle
Parsonage Wood
Rectory Hill
Saracens Head
St. Mary’s

A brief note about the area
A ghostly housekeeper and a grey lady
A woman in black
The ghost of Dick Turpin
A ghost with a wheelbarrow
Two ghosts, one known and one not
A ghost with a wheelbarrow, again
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General

Old Amersham is the oldest part of the town with the earliest known charter dating back to 796 AD. Today it consists of half-timbered houses and cottages some of which date back to 1682 (the town gaol now the Market Hall) and even 1450 (now housing the museum). One building, the sixteenth century Kings Arms, was used as a filming location for Four Weddings and a Funeral as was the Crown Hotel. At one time the main trades of the town were chair making, lace work and straw plait work.

From the fourteenth century Amersham was an active centre for the Lollards, a religious movement that followed John Wycliffe. By the sixteenth century the movement had practically taken over the town so the authorities acted by having many of the followers burned at the stake, an event now commemorated by the Martyrs’ Memorial.

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The Crown Hotel

One room in the circa 1620 Crown Hotel always cools down quicker than any other when the heat goes off on a winter’s night. The Quack’s Room, as it is called, has developed a reputation after several guests related the same experiences. They would constantly find that their clothes or suitcases had been moved from the spot where they left them. Sometimes the clothes would be taken out of the suitcase and at others clothes which had been removed from the case would be found back inside it.

In addition the figure of a grey lady has been seen both in the Quack’s Room and another room at the other end of the building. She has been described as wearing old-fashioned clothes and has been seen by people who have been woken up during the night. Members of staff claim there are five ghosts that haunt the building and the addition of an extension added another two. One ghost is said to shout “Get out now” sounding almost as if it is coming through the wall. In room 16 the ghost of an old Victorian housekeeper has been seen at Eastertide and she has even been known to tuck young men into their beds. Another ghost has been seen several times leaning against one of the old posts when the pub is shut. People have also felt a presence in one of the booths and paintings seem to move by themselves.

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The Elephant and Castle

In 2001 the landlady of the Elephant and Castle reported that members of her family had seen a ghostly woman. She was dressed in black and was seen walking through the walls near the kitchen. Some people believe that the ghost is gay as it has been accused of pinching the barmaids’ bottoms.

To view a map of the area click on the button below

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Parsonage Wood

It is said that many years ago the ghost of Dick Turpin was seen riding through Parsonage Wood.

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Rectory Hill

It was once reported that a hovering man with a wheel barrow had been seen along Rectory Hill and in the graveyard of St. Mary’s in Old Amersham.

To view a map of the area click on the button below



See also - Buckinghamshire - Amersham Old Town - St. Mary’s

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Saracens Head

Two ghosts are said to haunt the Saracens Head in Amersham Old Town. The first is supposed to be a young serving wench from the seventeenth century whilst the origin of the other is unknown.

To view a map of the area click on the button below

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St. Mary’s

It was once reported that a hovering man with a wheel barrow had been seen in the graveyard of St. Mary’s and along Rectory Hill in Old Amersham.

To view a map of the area click on the button below



See also - Buckinghamshire - Amersham Old Town - Rectory Hill